The Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table, comprised of the District of Muskoka, six lower tier municipalities and five Indigenous Nations, have received national recognition for their Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT) from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA). The communities were presented with the 2023 CAMA Collaboration Award with External Organizations during an Awards of Excellence Ceremony held today.
“CAMA is pleased to recognize the municipalities and Indigenous Nations for the excellence demonstrated through their collaboration to establish a leadership table among these communities,” said Bev Hendry, CAMA President and CAMA Member-At-Large (For Municipalities with Populations Under 100,000) and CAO for the Township of West Lincoln, ON. “Through this initiative, the District of Muskoka is playing a leadership role in bringing together elected officials and senior leaders from Indigenous and municipal governments.”
The Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT) is a unique response to addressing the Truth and Reconciliation’s 94 Calls to Action, breaking down barriers created through long-standing government policies of colonization, finding opportunities for shared services and initiatives, and building bridges between communities.
Despite sharing geography and people there are few examples of historical collaboration between municipal and Indigenous communities in Muskoka. Launched early in 2019, MAILT provides a streamlined, one-stop approach for Indigenous engagement for a variety of municipal projects and departments for all seven municipalities in Muskoka, as well as other public organizations seeking engagement with local Indigenous Nations.
Both planned and unanticipated benefits have been realized in Indigenous and municipal communities. In October 2022, the MAILT signed a Friendship Accord which establishes a mutual ongoing commitment to the framework, intent and principles of engagement between actively participating members of the MAILT.
“We’re deeply honoured by this recognition. After four years of meeting often, completing joint initiatives and launching impactful projects, the District of Muskoka and MAILT members anticipate our ongoing work will grow the relationship between Indigenous communities and municipalities. There’s so much good work to be done together and MAILT is a framework for that work, across so many aspects of reconciliation,” said District Chair Jeff Lehman.
“For decades, the CAMA Awards of Excellence have recognized the achievements of local governments and their senior staff in the development and implementation of successful programs, projects or services,” said Vince Lalonde, Chair of the 2023 CAMA Awards, as well as CAMA Board Representative for British Columbia and City Manager for the City of Surrey, BC. “This year we received 35 award submissions. Congratulations to the winners and everyone who took the time to enter the awards program.”
To find out more about the award won by the District of Muskoka, as well as the other 2023 CAMA Awards of Excellence winners, visit www.camacam.ca/awards and look for the award recipients’ link.
 from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA). The communities were presented with the 2023 CAMA Collaboration Award with External Organizations during an Awards of Excellence Ceremony held today.){kind=link}